We asked a roundtable of College of Business professors and administrators for their thoughts on trends in leadership instruction and how the college prepares students to be successful leaders.
How is the topic of leadership embedded into all College of Business programs?
Sharon Rea, Assistant Dean: “Leadership is addressed using a variety of methods, but I think the overall message is the same: leadership is required throughout a student’s academic career, as well as an employee’s professional career. We are incorporating experiential learning into all COB programs as much as possible, so students are given the opportunity to observe how leaders can be successful and how leaders sometimes fail to lead. Students are also given the opportunity to practice the skills that are being developed through real-life scenarios and projects. Students learn that they don’t need to be manager in the typical sense to be a good leader.”
How do you see that evolving in the future?
Jane Schaefer, Assistant Dean: “I see the need for emotional intelligence development to impact future leadership programming. In addition to leaders being lifelong learners, leaders must learn how to be coaches. The rapid growth of generative AI will both shape and be shaped by leadership roles in all industries. Cultural diversity will become even more centric in effective leadership practices.”
Joe Kirby, Assistant Professor and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Program Director: “Unfortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities to study high-profile scandals in business and leadership practices. A continued focus on ethics and corporate social responsibility will help to inform students of the demand for leaders who prioritize integrity, transparency and sustainability.”
How is the College of Business unique in how it teaches leadership?
Kevin Schieuer, Finance Professor: “Bellevue University and our College of Business are indeed unique in how we view and consequently teach leadership, as some core principles of business leadership and value creation are literally in the genesis and thus DNA of Bellevue University and our College of Business. The university was founded by our local chamber of commerce with an embedded commitment to be market-aware and market-driven, with the fundamental goal to provide value to our constituents and stakeholders in the marketplace. Our creation was based on core ideas of value-based decision-making and the implication that our services must create value for society. Our existence depends upon our commitment to successfully creating value to our stakeholders, and in particular the vast array of communities that we serve. This is inherently a leadership-driven mindset that is embedded in developing and delivering business education. Our curriculum must develop and inspire our stakeholders to be leaders in creating value in the marketplaces and communities they serve.”
Joe Kirby, Assistant Professor and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Program Director: “One distinct feature is our commitment to integrating real-world experience into our learning environment. Many of our adjunct faculty members are industry professionals who bring valuable insight and firsthand experience from today’s work environment into our courses. The blend of academic rigor and practical expertise helps students bridge the gap from theory to real-life business.”
Sharon Rea, Assistant Dean: “The College of Business program directors and faculty recognize that leadership is not confined to a ‘superior figure-to-subordinate’ framework. Leadership can be practiced at any level of a relationship. Employees can be leaders to their co-workers. Students can be leaders to their peer group. Leadership can and should be shared among team members. Individual players have differing skills and passions, so when a situation calls for a different or new skillset, a new ‘leader’ can emerge from within a team. It’s with this mindset that the College of Business’s programs and courses are created.”